Hasp-fastener.



C. I. GAULT.

HASP FASTBNER. APPLIOATIOK IILED MAY 11, 1912.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

awomkyz Witness nnrrnn STATES PATENT onnion.

CHESTER I. GAULT, OF MARYSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

HASP-FASTENER.

Application filed May 11, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHESTER I. GAULT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marysville, inthe county of Perry, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hasp-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is directed to improvements in hasp fasteners adapted for use in connection with the doors of freight cars.

The invention has for its object to provide a hasp fastener so constructed that the same cannot be dislodged or broken, which frequently occurs when cars are being coupled, owing to the jolt incident thereto.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a freight car,

showing the device in place thereon. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the fastener removed from the car door. Fig. 4 is a sectional View on line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an end view of the fastener.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the fastener which comprises a casing 2, said casing being semicircular in cross section and being provided with abase 3, said base having formed near its front end with perforations 4, and a single perforation 5 at its rear end, said perforations being for the purpose of receiving bolts 6, the inner threaded ends of which project a slight distance beyond the inner surface of the car door 7 and to which the casing is secured, clamping nuts 8 being mounted thereon to firmly secure the fastener in place.

Slidably mounted in openings 9 and 10 formed in the end walls 11 and 12 of the casing 2 is a bolt 13, said bolt also passing through an opening 1 1 formed in a partition 15 which is provided interiorly of the casing 2, and intermediate the end walls thereof. The front end of the bolt 13 projects Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

Serial No. 696,765.

beyond the end wall 12 of the casing and terminates in a hook 16, the extreme end of which being provided with lateral extensions 1.7 which slidably engage the opposing grooves 18 formed upon the front end of the base 3.

Formed integral with the front end of the bolt 13 is a collar 19 which bears against the outer end of a sleeve 20, said sleeve encircling the bolt 13 for a short distance and slidable in the opening 10 of the end wall 12, the outward sliding movement of said sleeve being limited by an annular flange 21 forming an integral part of said sleeve. A similar sleeve 22 encircles the bolt 13, and is adapted to slide in the opening 14 of the partition 15, the sliding movement of the sleeve 22 being limited in one direction by an annular flange 23, which is arranged in opposing relation with the flange 21 of the sleeve 20. Surrounding the bolt 13, and at I a point between the flange 21 and flange 23 of said sleeve is a coil spring 24, the opposite ends of which bear against said flanges.

Formed in the casing 2, and near the rear end thereof is a slot 25 and through which is passed a key 26 for engaging in a slot 27 formed in the bolt 13, said key being passed through the bolt 13 at a point so that one edge thereof will normally contact with the outer end of the sleeve 22. The key 26 has its lower end split so that the resultant portions 28 may be spread apart to prevent unauthorized withdrawal of the key.

The hasp strap 29 is of the usual construction, the eye 30 thereof being adapted to engage with the hook 16 of the fastener, while the other end thereof is formed with slots 31 for engaging over a staple 32, said staple being secured to the side of the car in a convenient position.

hen it is desired to equip a car with the fastener, it is only necessary that the key 26 be withdrawn from the bolt, whereupon the said bolt may be moved until the lateral extensions 17 of the hook 16 pass from the grooves 18, and at which time the eye 30 is passed over the extensions to engage the hook 16. The bolt 13 is then moved in the opposite direction, and until the extensions 17 are again. in engagement with the grooves 18, it then being only necessary to insert the key 26 through the slot 25 in the casing until the same firmly engages the slot 27 of the bolt, thus positively locking the hasp strap 29 to the fastener. After this has been done, the base 8 is secured to the door 7 of the car, as previously described.

From this construction, it Will be seen that when the cars are being coupled at either end, the jar imparted to the door by such action is cushioned by the fastener, thus preventing the tearing of the hasp and fastener from the car, which ofttimes occurs during the coupling of cars. Further, it

'will be seen that by this construction, and

during the coupling of the cars, the bolts 13 may slide within the casing as the door is jolted, the sprmg 24 allowlng free sliding movement of the bolt 13, but at the same time, cushioning the movement of the bolt and relieving the strain upon the hasp strap 29, and prevents injury thereto.

What is claimed is:

A hasp fastener comprising a base, a casing carried by the base, a partition formed in the casing, a bolt slidably mounted in the casing and passing through the partition, opposing grooves formed in the front end of said base, a hook formed upon one end of the bolt and terminating in lateral extensions whieh slidably engage said grooves, sleeves carried upon the bolt, a coil spring surrounding the bolt and interposed between said sleeves, said sleeves serving to contract said spring when the bolt moves longitudinally of the casing, and a hasp strap connected to the hook, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHESTER I. GAULT. Witnesses G. W. GAULT, EDGAR J. GAULT.

(icpies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

